A Year with Trees

#18 - Peepal Tree / Ficus religiosa

If there is a tree that truly represents India, it is Peepal. From as far back in time as the Indus Valley Civilization, pottery has been excavated with designs featuring leaves of the Peepal tree. It is a common tree in India, known for its beautiful heart-shaped leaves.

#17 - Indian Almond Tree / Terminalia catappa

I am talking about the terms plant blind and plant aware today because the tree which I am going to talk about today made me realise how even ardent tree watchers like me can become plant blind sometimes, but great trees like good friends drag us back to focus. Today's tree is the Indian Almond Tree, and before I discuss it in detail, let me recount to you my story about this tree.

#16 - Jamun Tree / Syzygium cumini

Kids and parrots have much in common. Not only can they chatter incessantly all day long, but they love the same kind of fruits, too. These fruits have soft skin or flesh and are sweet or tangy. So among their favourites, guavas, mangoes and lychees, is a purple sweet-sour berry-like fruit called Jamun .The tree is very common, yet I have met many people who find it difficult to identify it. So, in this episode, I will help you with distinct keys that you can use to easily know your jamun trees.

#15 - Strawberry Tree / Muntingia calabura

While strawberry trees don't have strawberry-like fruits hanging from them, the berries that do hang from them are equally beautiful, particularly when a tree is full of red and green berries. Let me tell you how I came across this tree for the first time, and then I will dive into all the cool botanical stuff related to it.

#14 - Lychee Tree / Litchi chinensis

The atrocious summer heat in India is welcome if it means a sweeter yield of two of my favourite fruits, namely, mango and lychee. I have already made an episode on mangoes in which I have poured my heart out, so if you love mangoes too, do check it out. And, today's episode is all about lychee.